p. 17 | Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 9. (2/17/1916)

Minnesota

By Geo. M. Brown

MINNEAPOLIS, being the metropolis of the Northwest and the headquarters of the Northern Union and Minnesota Conferences, is an important center in the great advent movement. As a result of city-wide evangelistic efforts conducted by Elder O. O. Bernstein and associated workers, many new members were added to the church, and a large number of persons in different parts of the city became interested in our work. Elder Bernstein having accepted a call to labor in Lincoln, Nebr., I was asked to serve as pastor of the church here, and came to the city in April, 1915.

In reviewing the work of the past year it has been encouraging to note the progress made, and I esteem it a privilege to pass on to the readers of the REVIEW a few facts gleaned from the records of the church for 1915. We have received sixty-three new members. The tithe is the largest ever paid in a single year, being $5,100.42. The Sabbath school offerings were $1,099.05, a notable increase over all previous years, due no doubt to the fact that the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering was made a special feature. The total gifts to missions were $1,839.14, a gain of $300 over 1914.

The Young People's Missionary Volunteer Society has grown in numbers and has increased its activities, having given special attention to the circulation of our good literature among foreign-speaking people. A church school with an enrolment of forty, under the direction of two teachers, has been in operation, and the home missionary work has received its share of attention, a small amount of literature having been used by the members of the church. For our local work we used $1,456.13. This and the items already mentioned make a total of $8,395.73 that the Minneapolis church contributed to the various departments of the cause in 1915.

For some time there has been a sentiment in favor of changing our church and conference offices, which for more than thirty years have been on the corner of Lake Street and Fourth Avenue, South. The increasing street car traffic on the two lines passing the church greatly disturbs our services, and we do not have room to add to our church for the accommodation of the Sabbath school and the church school, so it has been thought that we should move to a quieter place where lots would not cost so much and more room could be secured. The conference and the church were joint owners of the property, and a committee representing the interests of both was chosen to make a sale. This has been done, $15,500 cash being the price received. Two fine lots providing ample room for the church and school have been purchased. They are on the corner of Twenty-seventh Street and Stevens Avenue, within two blocks of one main street car line and three blocks from another. Work on our new building will begin as soon as the weather will permit.

The passing of the old Minneapolis church is an event of more than local interest, for it has a place in our denominational history. The General Conference was held in this church in 1889, when the message of righteousness by faith came with such convincing power to this denomination. In the basement of the church, educational work was done by Profs. C. C. Lewis and E. A. Sutherland, which led to the call for a college and resulted in the erection of Union College, at College View, Nebr.

While a feeling of sadness steals over us as we plan to leave the place hallowed by so many memories of past triumphs in the work of God, we recognize that our great Captain is leading us on to greater fields of usefulness and grander victories, and with grateful and courageous hearts we follow, ever seeking to manifest the faith which characterized the pioneers in this movement.

Brethren, pray for the work in Minneapolis. GEO. M. BROWN.

The Work in South Carolina

By J. L. Shuler

WE are glad to report that during the last year the Lord has blessed the work in South Carolina in a very marked manner. We feel to exclaim with the psalmist, “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”

At the close of 1914 the membership of this conference was 295. At the close of 1915 we found that we had 397 members, making a net gain of 102 the past year, or a gain of over thirty-three and one-third per cent. We are very thankful for the success the Lord has given our workers.

There has been a good increase also in the money contributed. Our tithe for 1915 was larger by one sixth than the amount paid in 1914. Our Sabbath school offerings were increased by almost one hundred per cent. We raised more than twice as much in the Harvest Ingathering campaign in 1915 as in 1914. Our mission offerings during 1915 were increased by fifty per cent. The financial statement of the conference for 1914 as prepared by the union auditor, Brother W. H. Williams, showed a net loss of $76.89, whereas the statement for 1915 shows a net gain of $835.40.

During the last fifteen months we have organized four churches, and we have another company ready for organization at this writing. Elder C. B. Haynes, the union evangelist, has recently held a very successful meeting in Greenville, and a good company of Sabbath keepers has been raised up. Elder C. G. Manns, one of our colored ministers, held a meeting in Sumter, which resulted in a church of forty-two members.

Our force of workers is very small. We greatly need more canvassers. We have plenty of territory, and the people are willing to buy. The winters here are very mild, and the canvasser can easily pursue his work the year round.

We are also greatly in need of experienced Sabbath keepers who could locate near our churches and act as leaders. Our greatest difficulty is to find well-qualified leaders for our churches.

The Lord has given very definite instruction regarding the work in the

South. In “Ministry of Healing,” pages 151, 152, we have this statement: “Many would be greatly benefited by sacrificing their pleasant, ease-conducing associations. They need to go where their energies will be called out in Christian work, and they can learn to bear responsibilities. Trees that are crowded closely together do not grow healthy and sturdy. The gardener transplants them that they may have room to develop. A similar work would benefit many of the members of large churches.”

For all that God has done for his work here we are thankful, and we trust that he has still greater blessings in store.

J. L. SHULER.

Among the Schools

By Frederick Griggs

ON my way to and from the fall council I visited the following schools: Southern Training School, Nashville Agricultural and Industrial Institute, the Oakwood Manual Training School, Keene Academy, San Fernando Academy, Lodi Academy, Pacific Union College, Walla Walla College, Lacombe Industrial Academy, Mount Ellis Academy, Campion Academy, the Hastings Intermediate School, Union College, Oak Park Academy, Emmanuel Missionary College, Bethel Academy, and the Broadview Swedish Seminary.

I found in all these schools a spirit of consecration. I was pleased with the efforts being made to improve the appearance of the buildings and grounds. Education is not found alone in books. Well-painted buildings, clean walls, oiled floors, neat rugs and substantial furniture, well-kept lawns, and an abundance of shrubbery artistically disposed about the grounds, have in themselves large elements of education. This our faculties are recognizing, and there is a constant improvement in the appearance of our school premises.

The strong movement for financial reform in our denomination is having a wholesome effect on the finances of our schools. In every school that I visited, this question is receiving careful consideration. The managers of our schools have a great task to strengthen and upbuild all features of their work, and at the same time to meet from month to month the regular operating expenses. A number of our schools are this year exerting themselves to be entirely free from debt, and without doubt they will be able to report the liquidation of their entire indebtedness before the close of the present year.

The school managements are endeavoring

to improve the personnel of their faculties; where changes are necessary, an effort is made to strengthen the work by securing more highly educated and efficient teachers. It is well, however, that there is also a growing desire on the part of boards of management to change the teaching force as little as possible.

With two or three exceptions every school that I visited has a larger enrolment than last year. This is as it should be.

The Missionary Volunteer Department is leading our young men and young women to recognize the duty that they owe to God and their fellow men, to secure an education which will fit them for gospel service. Our constantly enlarging church membership is another means of increasing our schools. Moreover, our school managements are adopting new and better means of promoting the interests of the schools among the churches. The work of our Publishing Department is also a means of increasing the attendance, and the number of students earning scholarships is increasing from year to year.

The educational council and conventions held last summer have in many practical ways directly affected our schools. There is a manifest determination on the part of our teachers so to unite and coöperate as to increase the strength and efficiency of every department; the courses of study are being strengthened; better textbooks are used, and improved methods of teaching are followed. The requirements made by the council in the matter of laboratories, libraries, and general equipment are already having their effect.

But of all lines of growth and improvement, the religious interest of our schools is most encouraging. From the opening of the year the presence of God and the manifest working of his Holy Spirit have characterized them. This good spirit bore abundant fruit during the week of prayer. It was my privilege to be with three of our schools at this season, and to visit three directly after, and it is my firm belief that this last week of prayer produced a richer harvest of souls than any preceding one. After all, this is the great end of our school undertakings. The converted student will be a worker for God; others cannot.

While in the South I visited Tuskegee Institute, Booker T. Washington's school. Here is a great institution, with an enrolment of nearly fifteen hundred students, that is giving a practical education to a needy people. It is loyally supported by men and women not connected with the school, for its income does not by any means meet its expenses. There is a lesson to our people in this. Money invested in the education of earnest youth will yield larger returns than any other investment.

I also went to Battleford, Saskatchewan, where the Saskatchewan Conference is establishing an intermediate school. They have secured from the government, on a ten-year lease, with a ten-year renewal clause, a large Indian school property. The government recently closed the school, and our people obtained it for the nominal rental of $5 a year. The plant has sixteen buildings, and 56½ acres, so it costs our people less than one cent an acre per year. The conference is investing several thousand dollars in remodeling the large school building. When this is done, they will have admirable facilities with which they may carry forward the school work of their conference.

We must "be strong and of a good courage" in our school work, for our command to go forward is of God.

FREDERICK GRIGGS.

Using the Newspapers in New York City

By C. T. Everson

OUR workers in New York City are endeavoring to attack the city problem on a larger and more extensive scale than perhaps has been tried before.

A large theater in the center of the down-town district has been rented, and a series of Sunday night meetings has been in progress several weeks. About six weeks after the opening of the campaign an opportunity was afforded to move to a larger theater than we at first used.

In attracting congregations, which about fill the building, our advertising has been largely limited to newspaper work. While some tickets, window cards, and circulars have been used, by far the largest part of the money spent in advertising goes to the newspapers. In New York City the metropolitan dailies have a special column on Saturdays devoted to advertising religious services. In some of these papers three and four full columns are devoted to church notices.

By inserting a fairly large advertisement, we have been able to get the leading place in their advertising columns. As a result, the church people and those interested in religion are becoming acquainted with our work. One minister in New York remarked to a worker of another church, that wherever he visited the people in the neighborhood of his church, he heard about our meetings.

People come to these services from different parts of New Jersey, from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and other places. The wide radius from which they come indicates that it is this newspaper advertising that is attracting their attention, for in most of these places there is no other means by which they could become acquainted with the services.

From some of the finest hotels and wealthy homes, people are attracted to the meetings. It is quite certain that these come because of the advertisement in the newspapers. One of our people going on the boat from New York to Boston, overheard two men talking on religious topics. One was a doctor, and the other a fine-looking business man. The business man remarked to the doctor, “I believe right Bible interpretations are placed on the war at the meetings in the theater.” The doctor answered, “I certainly should like to hear something further on this question.” These men from out of town must have been led to the services by reading about them in the papers.

By advertising in the newspapers we have been able to get some write-ups in the news columns of the papers that have helped quite materially in calling attention to these lectures. One long article in the New York Times, on Armageddon, attracted considerable attention. A doctor, after reading it, came to the meeting, and asked for literature on the subject, mentioning the fact that he had read about this subject in the Times.

Prominent churchmen are also taking an interest in the meetings through the newspaper publicity. Letters have been received from quite a number of persons outside of town, who, having read about the meetings in the newspapers, ask for further information on the subjects advertised. A letter has recently been received from a man in Georgia, who said he had read about the meetings in the newspapers, and asked for more information. One woman wrote from a distant town, saying that she had read about the sermon on Spiritualism. Her daughter had just died, and she wished to know if it was true that the dead come back to this world.

In New York City and some other places there is such a mixture of nationalities throughout the entire city that it is almost impossible to find a strictly American community. Consequently it is necessary to have some method of reaching those Americans who may be living among foreigners. It would be quite difficult to do this with circulars, as such a large percentage of them would be wasted; but the newspapers will get into these homes, and with a comparatively small expense we shall be able to reach people, no matter where they live. Almost every person who is able to read English, buys a newspaper, as it can be obtained for a nominal sum. One person has said that the newspaper has become the American Bible. So by advertising we are able to get to the services people whom we would not reach by scattering circulars.

A few have come to the services from the district known in New York as “Hell’s Kitchen.” They proved to be good, honest people, but lived in that district because the rents were cheaper. It was through the newspaper that they learned of the services.

C. T. EVERSON.

Work for the Colored in Southern California

By B. E. Beddoe

In Los Angeles, Cal., where work for the colored population of the city began ten years ago, there are now two churches, with an aggregate membership of nearly one hundred. It is reported that there are thirty thousand colored people living in this State. Twenty thousand of these live in Los Angeles.

It was in 1905 that work for the colored people in this city was begun by Miss Jennie L. Ireland, a Bible worker. The first believer was baptized in August, 1906. Others were soon established in the truth, and the conference erected a small mission building in a colored settlement of the city to be used in developing the work.

A church was organized Aug. 1, 1908. This was the first colored church organized by this people on the Pacific Coast. There were twenty-eight charter members. Within a year the membership increased to forty-eight. Another year brought the enrolment to sixty. In June, 1914, the second church of colored believers was organized, with a membership of fifteen. At present there are twenty-two members enrolled in this church.

Both these churches are faithful in the payment of tithes and offerings. Since the first church was organized, the conference has received an average of nearly a thousand dollars tithe each year from the colored Sabbath keepers. To the credit of those who make up these churches, it must be said that they are faithful in service, devoted and loyal to the threefold message.

Elder Sydney Scott, a colored minister of the Southern Union Conference, has come to aid us for a few months. He is leading out in the work for our colored people at the present time. Brother Scott is being ably assisted by Sisters Ireland and A. R. Temple, Bible workers.

We feel very thankful for the way God has blessed this work in Southern California. Never has the colored work in Los Angeles been in a better condition. Never have the prospects seemed brighter for the development of this branch of our work. We are confident that God will continue to bless it, and that nothing can stay its progress.

B. E. BEDDOE.

Educational Department

FREDERICK GRIGGS General Secretary W. D. HOWELL N. Am. Div. Asst. Secretary

The Bible Year

Assignment for February 20 to 26

FEBRUARY 20: Numbers 14, 15. FEBRUARY 21: Numbers 16 to 18. FEBRUARY 22: Numbers 19 to 21. FEBRUARY 23: Numbers 22 to 24. FEBRUARY 24: Numbers 25 to 27. FEBRUARY 25: Numbers 28 to 30. FEBRUARY 26: Numbers 31 to 33.

To Think About as You Read

FEBRUARY 20: God’s pardoning mercy. FEBRUARY 21: The sin of rebelling against God. FEBRUARY 22: Life for a look. Am I looking to Jesus for eternal life? FEBRUARY 23: God does not compel any one to serve him. “If you want to do wrong, you may.” FEBRUARY 24: Submission to God’s will. FEBRUARY 25: Am I faithfully keeping my vows? FEBRUARY 26: No secret sin can be hidden from God.

Life for a Look

The New Testament is interwoven with the Old; the Old Testament is the background of the New. The one supplements and completes the other. Long after the brazen serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, Jesus referred to the incident in the familiar words, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” Of the serpent of brass it was said, “Every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” To those bitten by the serpent of sin, Jesus gives the invitation, “Look unto me, and be ye saved.” “We can understand why Christ should be represented by the innocent lamb and animals of like nature; but how can he be fitly represented by the serpent, the beast that is the symbol of Satan? We see in this to what degree our Lord descended in order to rescue us. He was ‘made a curse for us: . . . cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.’ Jesus experienced that which Paul said he could wish for himself—he was accursed for his brethren.”

In later years the children of Israel made an idol of this brazen image, and burned incense before it. It was destroyed by Hezekiah.

The Books of the Bible

There are sixty-six books in the Bible, thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New. The Old Testament books are grouped under four heads, as follows:—

Law, five books.
History, twelve books.
Poetry, five books.
Prophecy, seventeen books.

The New Testament books are grouped as follows:—

Biographical, four books.
Historical, one book.
Pauline epistles, fourteen books.
General, seven books.
Prophetical, one book.

Let every one learn the names of all the books of the Bible in their order, and drill upon them until perfectly familiar with them.

The Bible was probably divided into chapters by Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, who died cir. 1227 A. D. The Old Testament was divided into verses by Rabbi Nathan in 1437 A. D., and the New Testament by Robert Stevens, in his Greek Testament of 1551.

The Pentateuch

The first five books of the Bible are called the Pentateuch, a word meaning “five books.” This word does not occur in the Bible itself, “the Israelites calling these books collectively the law, the law of Moses, the law of the Lord, the book of Moses, the book of the law of Moses, the book of the law of God, the book of the law of the Lord. This fact suggests that the five books were considered as one; and they still are so in Hebrew manuscripts, though severally cited by their opening words.”

Seven Reasons for Bible Study

“Every young man should make the Bible central in his reading and study,— “1. Because it is the most alive and widely studied book in the world today. “2. Because the English Bible is the greatest classic in our literature. “3. Because its study enlarges one’s horizon and brings one in touch with the most earnest and self-sacrificing spirits of this and of every age. “4. Because to know it helps one to appreciate all else that is best in literature. “5. Because it touches and crowns all other branches of knowledge. “6. Because it is God’s appointed means for the development of noble Christian character. “7. Because it contains God’s message of grace and power for the full salvation of the needy world in which he has placed us.”—“Why Read and Study the Bible,” p. 16.

Missionary Volunteer Department

M. E. KERN - - - - Secretary MATILDA ERICKSON - - - Assistant Secretary MABEL MAGRUDER - - - Field Secretary C. L. BENSON - - - Field Secretary MRS. I. H. EVANS - - - Office Secretary

The Secret

MEN wondered why, in summer heat, The little brook, with music sweet, Could glide along the dusty way, When all else parched and silent lay.

Few stopped to think how, every morn, The sparkling stream anew was born In some moss-circled mountain pool, Forever sweet and clear and cool.

A life that, ever calm and glad, One melody and message had— “How keeps it so,” men ask, “when I Must change with every changing sky?”

Ah! if men knew the secret power That gladdens every day and hour, Would they not change to song life's care By drinking at the fount of prayer?

— Selected.

Colporteurs' Institutes

By W. W. Eastman

AMONG the many institutes and conventions held in connection with this advent movement, not the least important, by any means, is the colporteurs' institute.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COLPORTEURS’ INSTITUTE

Only a few years ago these institutes were quite generally held in the early spring, or possibly the closing winter months. Those who could be induced to enter the work for the summer's campaign were gathered in at that time and given special instruction and sent out. Indeed, the writer quite well remembers when no institutes at all were held for those who desired to canvass for our books, but they were furnished a prospectus and a printed canvass, and possibly given a little private instruction, and then sent out to succeed or fail, whichever the case might be. Even when institutes began to be held, it was often the case that the “State agent,” as he was then called, was generally left alone to do the best he could with those he was fortunate enough to get sufficiently interested to attend.

But little by little the Lord has helped his people to see the importance of this work, and to-day it is very different from what it used to be. These important gatherings are now quite generally attended by the local conference president, and often by the union conference president, who assist in Bible and other instruction, thus giving a substantial mold to the work. And, too, we find them being held as early in the year as possible, often beginning with the holidays before the old year has closed.

Most encouraging reports are reaching us from these institutes this year, and in some instances photographs have been sent us. That a splendid class of men and women are enlisting for 1916 can be seen by a glance at these photographs. The picture recently appearing in the REVIEW, from Ohio, was a good illustration of this. This week we pass along two excellent-looking groups,—one from the Northern California Conference, showing Elder C. Santee, the conference president, in attendance; and one from Georgia. Of the one first mentioned, F. E. Painter, field secretary of the Pacific Union, who appears in the group, says: “We certainly had a splendid institute at Lodi, and I think Brother Abbott has some of the most promising colporteurs lined up that I have seen yet.” Brother Abbott himself says: “We have just closed a very satisfactory institute, and the workers shown in the illustration, besides two others, are in the field for earnest work, and the larger portion of them expect to stay in the field for twelve months in the year.”

Brother D. W. Dillen, field secretary of the Southeastern Union, also speaks very encouragingly of those whose faces appear in the Georgia group.

We say again, These colporteurs' institutes are of great importance, representing as they do a class of workers who are doing a great work in hastening the coming of Jesus.

Let us remember these devoted workers at the throne of grace, that God may greatly bless their labors to the salvation of many souls. W. W. EASTMAN.

Hunan (China) Periodical Work

By S. G. White

THE work with periodicals in the province of Hunan during the year 1915 has been greatly blessed of God, and good advancement has been made. We are trying to organize our forces for efficient service, so that a foundation may be laid for a solid, substantial work.

Early in the year, because our club of Chinese Signs was greatly reduced, many thought the canvassing work in Hunan had received a setback, but we were merely searching for a solid base upon which to build, and felt that one of the corner stones to success would be to sell only up-to-date papers as current issues, and refuse to allow the canvassers to use papers which were months old.

The result, we are glad to say, has proved a great blessing to the canvassers; a greater and cleaner work is accomplished, and the work of God is placed in a better light before outsiders. It has also helped the workers to appreciate its sacredness and their obligations. Our club of Chinese papers is gradually increasing. We find that the value of periodical sales and subscriptions taken this year during the months of May, June, July, and August is over 2,220 strings of cash, while for the same months of 1914 it was less than 900 strings. Thus we have more than doubled the value of sales. This work has been done with the same number of laborers, but the amount of help given from mission funds for traveling expenses has been more than $100 less for the four months. Besides this saving of $100 Mexican, the mission will receive from the canvassers on the papers and subscriptions over 400 strings of cash, while last year all the proceeds went to the worker. The tithe also from these workers will be greater, although our bills from the publishing house will be larger.

This success has brought encouragement to the canvassers, for it has allowed a fair Chinese salary to all who have put in full time. It has also been a relief to those in charge of the work, for not a single canvasser has made request for financial assistance. God's blessing has been with these fellow workers,

and their working to a higher standard is preparing their hearts and making better records possible in the future.

Outlook for Next Year

Beginning with October of this year fifty per cent of all sales made and subscriptions taken will revert to the mission. This may separate two or three from our faithful band, but the majority will be glad to cooperate, for they have already experienced the fact that the more they help the greater they are blessed. We, on our part, are already laying plans to enable them to do their very best work, and expect to see Hunan thoroughly canvassed within the coming year. The province is being divided into districts sufficiently large to constantly support two workers, and still small enough to be covered three or four times in one year. We shall endeavor to protect all by not allowing any to overstep the territory assigned them. The work of the four months just past has been devoted largely to the taking of subscriptions, more than 5,000 yearly subscriptions having been passed on to the publishers. It is planned to organize so that greater numbers of single copies may be sold; thus from our meeting this fall until next autumn, millions of doors will have a visit from the King's messenger with the invitation, Come, prepare, for the supper is almost ready.

S. G. WHITE.

Book Work in Guatemala

By C. F. Innis

FROM the present outlook, which to me is encouraging, I think I can with God's help place a large number of our good books in this field. Business depression exists, of course, but there are always some who will buy when the book is presented to them in the right way. I think “Rey” will be a good seller, as the price is reasonable. One dollar fifty, gold, means $75 in billetes, and I am now getting $125 in billetes for “Salud” in cheapest binding. C. F. INNIS.

Publishing Department

N. Z. TOWN — — — General Secretary

W. W. EASTMAN — N. Am. Div. Secretary

Religious Liberty in Danger

By C. S. Longacre

CERTAINLY we are living in portentous times. The present is dark and the future looks forbidding. Great issues are before us which, if wrongly settled, will determine the fate of this world, and will bring untold misery and desolation to all its inhabitants. To God's people this should be a time of deep heart-searching and of watchfulness coupled with intense activity in the Lord's work. Our days of peace and prosperity on earth are numbered, and what is left for us to do must be done quickly.

The voice of the dragon is heard in the land, and the restraining hand which has hindered thus far, is showing signs of relaxation. Religious sentiments which have been slumbering for years are being awakened by the roar of the cannon and the din of the battle in the present world conflict. The authoritative voice of the great Babylonian church has never had a more attentive audience to speak to than the present inhabitants of the world. They are ready to receive with favor any suggestion of a change in the present order of things. And the power-seeking church is not unmindful of her hour of opportunity to place herself in the forefront. Her long-looked-for day has come at last, or at least is drawing nigh. The day of her supremacy is fast hastening on, where she will again make her boast, “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” But, alas! it is not the sun-clothed and star-crowned woman of the Apocalypse, but the woman seated on the “scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns,”—the woman “arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication,” and upon whose forehead was written, “MYSTERY! BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” The woman was “drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus,” and she is to sit again on the universal throne of world ecclesiastical dominion, and make her boast of supremacy as a queen reigning over “all nations,” “and the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication . . . with her.” But, thank God, her day of triumph will be short. Her judgments shall come suddenly and unexpectedly, “in one hour” (day), and “with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” God himself will do this, “for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.”

But before God does this “strange act,” “the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits, and they that understand among the people shall instruct many,” “and they that be teachers [margin] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.” What an incentive to work for God now, and have a part in finishing his work of saving the lost out of a world wreck!

If you want to know some of the dangers which are threatening us as a people, and what you can do to assist us in doing “exploits” for God and the cause of truth and freedom, do not fail to hear the special program which has been prepared for Religious Liberty Day on the fourth Sabbath in February, as set forth in the Church Officers' Gazette.

May God help us to arouse ourselves and come up “to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” In this great struggle for religious freedom that the truth of God may triumph over its foes, may it not be said of us in the song of Moses and the Lamb, when the conflict is over, as it was said of an ancient people in the song of Deborah and Barak: “Curse ye Meroz, . . . curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.”

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. . . . For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” “Wherefore . . . let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”

C. S. LONGACRE.

Good News from Britain

By S. Joyce

We printed 10,000 copies of “The World’s Crisis,” written by W. T. Bartlett. One church of forty-nine members, before they saw a copy of this book, ordered 1,000 copies. This was followed soon after the book appeared by an order from another church for 1,000 copies. Brother Brandt gave us a big surprise by ordering £160 2s. 10d. worth of this book, together with thousands of copies of our holiday papers. He and a companion expect to sell all this literature in a large city.

Fifty thousand copies of the holiday Good Health were ready November 3; by the sixteenth orders had arrived for them all. Now our printers are busy on a 100,000 holiday edition of The Present Truth. It and Good Health are double numbers. We are selling a large number of a penny paper entitled “The World War.” We sold 375,000 copies of a penny paper called “Armageddon.”

We still believe God is above this war, and we should use the opportunities which circumstances may offer us.

S. JOYCE.

Religious Liberty Department

By C. S. Longacre

C. S. LONGACRE - - N. Am. Div. Secretary

NOTICES AND APPOINTMENTS

By J. L. McElhany; E. E. Parlin

California Conference Association

The twentieth annual meeting of the California Conference Association of the Seventh-day Adventists will be held in connection with the regular forty-fifth annual session of the California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, at Mountain View, Cal., March 6-9, 1916, for the election of a board of seven trustees for the ensuing term, and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting. The first meeting will be called at 3 P. M., Monday, March 6, 1916.

J. L. McELHANY, President.

E. E. PARLIN, Secretary.

North Pacific Union Conference Association

By C. W. Flaiz; S. J. Lashier

THE NORTH PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE ASSOCIATION is hereby called to convene in its biennial session at College Place, Wash., Feb. 21, 1916, at 11 A. M.

Officers will be elected, and such other business transacted as may need attention.

C. W. Flaiz, President.

S. J. Lashier, Secretary.

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